Electric swiveling mechanism for two axes

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a portable multimedia player which comprises a panel, a base, and an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes combining the panel and the base. The electric swiveling mechanism further comprises a first swiveling mechanism and a second swiveling mechanism for controlling yaw and pitch swiveling, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to swiveling mechanism, and moreparticularly to electric swiveling mechanism for two axes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Consumer electronics such as portable multimedia player are gettingpopular in recent years. The portable multimedia player is small enoughfor portability and convenience for playing multimedia content anywhereand everywhere. Similar to conventional laptop computer, most portablemultimedia player are designed as foldable style. In this foldabledesign, most electronic components and circuit boards are arrangedinside a base and a display is placed in a foldable panel. The foldablepanel and the base are jointed by a mechanism.

The panel is folded to the base for protecting the display and theconsole on the surface of the base when the conventional portablemultimedia player and laptop are powered off. When multimedia or contentis played, a pitch angle between the panel and the base is formed.Besides, some mechanism of some products may allow some degrees ofrotation in yaw in convenience of users in the left or right side of theproducts. Conventionally, the mechanism, jointing the panel and thebase, is rotated by hands for adjusting the angles in pitch and yaw. Itis rare to see a mechanism driven by electric applying on these smallconsumer electronics. It may be reasoned as that the distance betweenthe electronics and user is so close. The angle adjustment could be donedirectly by hands.

In addition, the portable multimedia player could be plugged to vehiclesas passenger entertainment system. When the player is loaded, thedistance between the passenger and the player may be longer than a fullarm length. The vehicle movement may interrupt the handy adjustmentoperation, too. When considering remote control as a solution fordifficulties above, there exists a need for an electric mechanism foradjusting the pitch and yaw angles of the panel. However, the volume andsize of portable multimedia player is already highly constrained.Building an electric driven mechanism for such purpose is a bigchallenge. Hence the present invention provides an electric swivelingmechanism for two axes as a solution for the requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, in accordance with the previous summary, objects, featuresand advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to oneskilled in the art from the subsequent description and the appendedclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

One object of this invention is to provide a portable multimedia playerwith an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes, which comprises apanel, a base, and said electric swiveling mechanism for interconnectingsaid panel and said base. The electric swiveling mechanism furthercomprising a first swiveling mechanism and a second swiveling mechanism.In this regards, the first swiveling mechanism comprises a baseattachment for fixing said whole electric swiveling mechanism on a base,a first yaw gear and a second yaw gear on the same shaft, a third yawgear, engaging at said second yaw gear, and a yaw driving motor on saidbase attachment. A worm gear on the shaft of said yaw driving motor isused to drive said first yaw gear, said second yaw gear, and said thirdyaw gear consequently. Besides, the second swiveling mechanism comprisesa pitch driving motor, a pitch shaft rod, a tilt shaft rod, and a emptycylinder bearing structure for carrying a gear set supporting structure.The both ends of said pitch shaft rod comprising a plurality of panelattachment structures for fixing to a panel. The tilt shaft rodcomprising a tilt gear for engaging at a worm gear on the driving shaftof said pitch driving motor 150 and a tilt worm gear for engaging at apitch gear on said pitch shaft rod. The bearing structure can be fixedand rotated on said base attachment. The bearing structure furthercomprising a bearing gear underneath engaging to said third yaw gear.The gear set supporting structure is vertically fixed to the internalempty space of said bearing structure. A vertical wall of said gear setsupporting structure further comprises a first shaft hole for the shaftof said pitch driving motor, a second shaft hole, located above saidfirst shaft hole, for said pitch shaft rod, a first tilt shaft rodfulcrum and a second tilt shaft rod fulcrum for supporting the tiltshaft rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of thedisclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are diagrams illustrate an electric swivelingmechanism for two axes;

FIG. 2A is a diagram shows a portable multimedia player of an embodimentin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a diagram shows a portable multimedia player of an embodimentin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a diagram shows a portable multimedia player of an embodimentin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2D is a diagram shows a portable multimedia player of an embodimentin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrates a lift mechanism of the retractableoptical driver shown in the FIG. 2D;

FIG. 3B is a diagram shows the retractable optical driver in the liftingposition;

FIG. 4A is a diagram shows a magnet movement apparatus of an embodimentin accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4B is a diagram shows the magnet movement apparatus of theembodiment in accordance with the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure can be described by the embodiments given below.It is understood, however, that the embodiments below are notnecessarily limitations to the present disclosure, but are used to atypical implementation of the invention.

Having summarized various aspects of the present invention, referencewill now be made in detail to the description of the invention asillustrated in the drawings. While the invention will be described inconnection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to theembodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary the intentis to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents includedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

It is noted that the drawings presents herein have been provided toillustrate certain features and aspects of embodiments of the invention.It will be appreciated from the description provided herein that avariety of alternative embodiments and implementations may be realized,consistent with the scope and spirit of the present invention.

It is also noted that the drawings presents herein are not consistentwith the same scale. Some scales of some components are not proportionalto the scales of other components in order to provide comprehensivedescriptions and emphasizes to this present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, which are diagrams illustrate anelectric swiveling mechanism 100 for two axes. The mechanism 100comprises a first swiveling mechanism 120 and a second swivelingmechanism 140. In this regards, the first swiveling mechanism 120further comprises a base attachment 122 for fixing the whole electricswiveling mechanism 100 on the base, a yaw driving motor 124 on the baseattachment 122, a first yaw gear 126 and a second yaw gear 128 sharingthe same shaft, and a third yaw gear 130 engaging at the second yaw gear128. The diameter of the first yaw gear 126 is greater than the secondyaw gear 128 of the same shaft. Besides, the first and second yaw gears126 and 128 may be implemented as a two-level gear. A worm gear 125 onthe driving shaft of the yaw driving motor 124 is used to drive thefirst yaw gear 126. Hence the third yaw gear 130 could be driven by thesecond yaw gear 128, which shares the same shaft with the first yaw gear126.

As shown in the FIGS. 1B and 1C, the second swiveling mechanism 140comprises an empty cylinder bearing structure 142 to carry a gear setsupporting structure 144, a pitch driving motor 150, a tilt shaft rod152, and a pitch shaft rod 158. In this regards, the gear set supportingstructure 144 is vertically fixed to the internal empty space of thebearing structure 142. The vertical wall of the gear set supportingstructure 144 further comprising a first shaft hole 145 for the shaft ofthe pitch driving motor 150, a second shaft hole 146, which is locatedabove the first shaft hole 145, for the pitch shaft rod 158, a firsttilt shaft rod fulcrum 147 and a second tilt shaft rod fulcrum 148 forsupporting the tilt shaft rod 152. Besides, the tilt shaft rod 152further comprises a tilt gear 154 for engaging at a worm gear on thedriving shaft of the pitch driving motor 150, and a tilt worm gear 156for engaging at a pitch gear 160 on the pitch shaft rod 158. Thediameter of the tilt gear 154 may be larger than the diameter of thetilt worm gear 156. In addition, the both ends of the pitch shaft rod158 further comprise a plurality of panel attachment structures 162 forfixing to the panel. In such combination, the tilt gear 154 could bedriven by the worn gear 151 on the driving shaft of the pitch drivingmotor 150. Moreover, the pitch gear 160 could be driven by the tilt worngear 156, which is on the same tilt shaft rod 152. At last the pitch ofthe panel could be controlled by the rotation of the pitch shaft rod158.

As shown in the FIG. 1A, the bearing structure 142 may be fixed androtated on the base attachment 122. In this regards, the bearingstructure 142 further comprises a bearing gear 143 underneath engagingto the third yaw gear 130. When the shaft of the yaw driving motor 124rotates, the bearing structure 142 would be rotated accordingly. Thereexist friction combination mechanisms between the first and second yawgears 126 and 128, and between the pitch shaft rod 158 and the pluralityof panel attachment structures 162. When the panel is rotated by handsand the rotating force is greater than the friction provided by thefriction combination mechanism, the correspondence between the first andsecond yaw gears 126 and 128 would be conquered and lost in order toprotect the rack of the worm gear. Similarly, when the panel is pitchedby hands and the rotating force is greater than the friction provided bythe friction combination mechanism, the correspondence between the pitchshaft rod 158 and the plurality of panel attachment structures 162 wouldbe conquered and lost in order to protect the rack of the worm gear.

In this embodiment, the pitch and yaw of the panel is come from theamplified torques by the gear trains of the first and second swivelingmechanisms 120 and 140. In one example of the embodiment, the torque ofthe yaw and pitch driving motors 124 and 150 could be amplified from 20gw-cm to 20 kgw-cm. In another example of the embodiment, the yaw andpitch driving motors 124 and 150 are DC (direct current) motorsproviding high torque in low rotational speed. Hence, the rotationaldirection could be controlled by the direction of electric current. Theyaw angle of the panel could be ranged in 225 degree and the pitch anglecould be ranged in 180 degree.

Please refer to the FIG. 2A, which is a diagram shows a portablemultimedia player 200 of an embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention. The portable multimedia player 200 comprises a panel 210, abase 220, and an electric swiveling mechanism 230 for interconnectingthe panel 210 and the base 220. Please refer to the FIG. 2B; the pitchangle of the panel 210 could be controlled by the electric swivelingmechanism 230. Please refer to the FIG. 2C; the yaw angle of the panel210 could be controlled by the electric swiveling mechanism 230.

Please refer to FIG. 2D, the portable multimedia player 200 may furthercomprises a retractable optical driver 240, a magnet movement apparatus245, a touch console 250, a touch remote control module 255, a RF (radiofrequency) broadcaster 260, a wireless telephone module 265, a wirelessnetwork module 270, a television receiving module 275, and apower-saving module 280. In this regards, the touch console 250 couldsense the object on the surface of the console by the electroniccharges. Moreover, the gathered information by the sensor is sent to amicroprocessor 290 for executing the input commands of the user.Conventional buttoned console is replaced by the touch console withoutconcerning with the size, pressure, and reliability of the conventionalbuttons. Similarly, the touch remote control module 255 takes theadvantage for providing remote control capability of the portablemultimedia player 200.

Besides, the RF broadcaster 260 could transmit output audio signal toconventional FM (Frequency Modulation) radio receiver. For example, whenthe portable multimedia player 200 is placed inside the vehicle, theoutput audio could be played by the powerful stereo system of thevehicle rather than be played by the portable multimedia player 200itself. In addition, with the help of the wireless telephone module 265,the portable multimedia player 200 could be taken as a wirelesstelephone for talking 2 G/3 G telephone and/or conducting 3 G videoconference call. Similarly, wireless networking capability of theportable multimedia player 200 could be achieved with the wirelessnetwork module 270. Furthermore, analog and digital television signaland digital audio broadcast signal could be received by the televisionreceiving module 275. Hence the portable multimedia player 200 coulddisplay television and play digital audio signal. At last, the powersaving module 280 could turn off the power after idling for a while inorder to save valuable battery power.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, which illustrates a lift mechanism 300 of theretractable optical driver 240 shown in the FIG. 2D. In this regards,the retractable optical driver 240 is a disc-inhale driver. Thedisc-inhale open could be concealed and buried inside the base. When theuser tries to insert or change the disc, the disc-inhale open of theretractable optical driver 240 could be lifted by the lift mechanism300. The lift mechanism 300 comprising a lift driving motor 310, a geartrain 320, and a driver mount 330 for mounting the optical driver 240.The torque provided by the lift driving motor 310 could be amplified bythe gear train 320 for lifting or concealing the optical driver 240.

As shown in the FIG. 3A, the driver mount 330 could be rotated around anaxis 332. A mount rod 334 of the lifting end of the driver mount 330 islinked to the gear train 320. In this embodiment, the gear train 320comprises a first lift gear 321 and a second lift gear 322 sharing thesame shaft, a third lift gear 323 engaging at the second lift gear 322,a fourth lift gear 324 engaging at the third lift gear 323, a worm gearrod 325 sharing the same shaft of the fourth lift gear 324, a fifth liftgear 326 engaging at the worm gear rod 325, and a rotation liftmechanism 327 attaching to the shaft of the fifth lift gear 326. Themovement of the mount rod 334 is constrained in an elongated hole 328 ofthe rotation lift mechanism 327. The position of the mount rod 334 iscorresponding to the lift position of the driver mount 330. Besides, thediameter of the first lift gear 321 is larger than the second lift gear332 in order to amplify the torque provided by a worm gear rod on theshaft of the lift driving motor 310.

Please refer to the FIG. 3B, which shows the retractable optical driver240 in the lifting position. In this embodiment, there exists a frictioncombination mechanism between the fifth lift gear 326 and its shaft.When the driver 240 is pushed by hands and the pushing force is largerthan the friction, the correspondence between the fifth lift gear 326and its shaft would be conquered and lost in order to protect the rackof the worm gear.

Please refer to the FIG. 4A, which shows a magnet movement apparatus 400of the embodiment. The open ends of the panel 210 and base 220 are fixedtogether by the attraction force of a panel magnet set 410 and a basemagnet set 420. However, the torque provided by the electric swivelingmechanism could not conquer the attraction force between the magnet sets410 and 420 for lifting the panel. The tie between the magnet sets 410and 420 has to being broken by moving one of the magnet sets away. Inthis embodiment, the magnet movement apparatus 400 may comprises adriving motor 430, a gear train 440, and a rack 450 attached to the basemagnet set 420.

As shown in the FIG. 4A, the gear train 440 may comprises a firstmovement gear 442 and a second movement gear 444 on the same shaft. Thefirst movement gear 442 is engaged at a worm gear 432 on the shaft ofthe driving motor 430. Besides, the diameter of the first movement gear442 is larger than the second movement gear 444 in order to amplify thetorque. In addition, there may exists a friction combination mechanismbetween the first movement gear 442 and the second movement gear 444.When the base magnet set 420 is pushed by hands and the pushing force islarger than the friction, the correspondence between first movement gear442 and the second movement gear 444 would be conquered and lost inorder to protect the rack of the worm gear. Please refer to the FIG. 4B,which shows the magnet movement apparatus 400 of the embodiment.

The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limitthe invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications orvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. In this regard,the embodiment or embodiments discussed were chosen and described toprovide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and itspractical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the artto utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the inventions asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breath to which they are fairly and legally entitled.

It is understood that several modifications, changes, and substitutionsare intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances somefeatures of the invention will be employed without a corresponding useof other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appendedclaims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope ofthe invention.

1. An electric swiveling mechanism for two axes, comprising: a firstswiveling mechanism, comprising: a base attachment for fixing said wholeelectric swiveling mechanism on a base; a first yaw gear and a secondyaw gear on the same shaft, wherein the diameter of said first yaw gearis greater than said second yaw gear; a third yaw gear, engaging at saidsecond yaw gear; and a yaw driving motor on said base attachment,wherein a worm gear on the shaft of said yaw driving motor is used todrive said first yaw gear, said second yaw gear, and said third yaw gearconsequently; and a second swiveling mechanism, comprising: a pitchdriving motor; a pitch shaft rod, wherein the both ends of said pitchshaft rod comprising a plurality of panel attachment structures forfixing to a panel; a tilt shaft rod, wherein said tilt shaft rodcomprising a tilt gear for engaging at a worm gear on the driving shaftof said pitch driving motor 150 and a tilt worm gear for engaging at apitch gear on said pitch shaft rod; a empty cylinder bearing structurefor carrying a gear set supporting structure, wherein said bearingstructure can be fixed and rotated on said base attachment, said bearingstructure further comprising a bearing gear underneath engaging to saidthird yaw gear, said gear set supporting structure is vertically fixedto the internal empty space of said bearing structure, a vertical wallof said gear set supporting structure further comprising: a first shafthole for the shaft of said pitch driving motor; a second shaft hole,located above said first shaft hole, for said pitch shaft rod; and afirst tilt shaft rod fulcrum and a second tilt shaft rod fulcrum forsupporting the tilt shaft rod.
 2. An electric swiveling mechanism fortwo axes of claim 1, wherein there exists a friction combinationmechanism between said first and second yaw gears, when said panel isrotated and the rotating force is greater than the friction provided bysaid friction combination mechanism, the correspondence between saidfirst and second yaw gears is lost for protecting the rack of said wormgear.
 3. An electric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 1,wherein there exists a friction combination mechanism between said pitchshaft rod and said plurality of panel attachment structures, when saidpanel is rotated and the rotating force is greater than the frictionprovided by said friction combination mechanism, the correspondencebetween said pitch shaft rod and said plurality of panel attachmentstructures is lost for protecting the rack of said worm gear.
 4. Anelectric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 1, wherein said yawand said pitch driving motors are DC (direct current) motors providinghigh torque in low rotational speed, the rotational direction could becontrolled by the direction of electric current, the yaw angle of thepanel is ranged in 225 degree and the pitch angle is ranged in 180degree.
 5. An electric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 1,wherein said panel and said base is belonged to a portable multimediaplayer.
 6. An electric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 5,wherein said portable multimedia player further comprising a magnetmovement apparatus for locking said panel and said base by magneticattraction force.
 7. A portable multimedia player with an electricswiveling mechanism for two axes, comprising a panel, a base, and saidelectric swiveling mechanism for interconnecting said panel and saidbase, wherein said electric swiveling mechanism further comprising: afirst swiveling mechanism, comprising: a base attachment for fixing saidwhole electric swiveling mechanism on a base; a first yaw gear and asecond yaw gear on the same shaft, wherein the diameter of said firstyaw gear is greater than said second yaw gear; a third yaw gear,engaging at said second yaw gear; and a yaw driving motor on said baseattachment, wherein a worm gear on the shaft of said yaw driving motoris used to drive said first yaw gear, said second yaw gear, and saidthird yaw gear consequently; and a second swiveling mechanism,comprising: a pitch driving motor; a pitch shaft rod, wherein the bothends of said pitch shaft rod comprising a plurality of panel attachmentstructures for fixing to a panel; a tilt shaft rod, wherein said tiltshaft rod comprising a tilt gear for engaging at a worm gear on thedriving shaft of said pitch driving motor 150 and a tilt worm gear forengaging at a pitch gear on said pitch shaft rod; a empty cylinderbearing structure for carrying a gear set supporting structure, whereinsaid bearing structure can be fixed and rotated on said base attachment,said bearing structure further comprising a bearing gear underneathengaging to said third yaw gear, said gear set supporting structure isvertically fixed to the internal empty space of said bearing structure,a vertical wall of said gear set supporting structure furthercomprising: a first shaft hole for the shaft of said pitch drivingmotor; a second shaft hole, located above said first shaft hole, forsaid pitch shaft rod; and a first tilt shaft rod fulcrum and a secondtilt shaft rod fulcrum for supporting the tilt shaft rod.
 8. A portablemultimedia player with an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes ofclaim 7, wherein there exists a friction combination mechanism betweensaid first and second yaw gears, when said panel is rotated and therotating force is greater than the friction provided by said frictioncombination mechanism, the correspondence between said first and secondyaw gears is lost for protecting the rack of said worm gear.
 9. Aportable multimedia player with an electric swiveling mechanism for twoaxes of claim 7, wherein there exists a friction combination mechanismbetween said pitch shaft rod and said plurality of panel attachmentstructures, when said panel is rotated and the rotating force is greaterthan the friction provided by said friction combination mechanism, thecorrespondence between said pitch shaft rod and said plurality of panelattachment structures is lost for protecting the rack of said worm gear.10. A portable multimedia player with an electric swiveling mechanismfor two axes of claim 7, wherein said yaw and said pitch driving motorsare DC (direct current) motors providing high torque in low rotationalspeed, the rotational direction could be controlled by the direction ofelectric current, the yaw angle of the panel is ranged in 225 degree andthe pitch angle is ranged in 180 degree.
 11. A portable multimediaplayer with an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 7,further comprising a retractable optical driver for playing multimediacontent on optical discs.
 12. A portable multimedia player with anelectric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 7, further comprisinga magnet movement apparatus for locking said panel and said base bymagnetic attraction force.
 13. A portable multimedia player with anelectric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 12, wherein saidmagnet movement apparatus comprising a driving motor, a gear train, anda rack attached to a base magnet set, said gear train comprising a firstmovement gear and a second movement gear on the same shaft, said firstmovement gear is engaged at a worm gear on the shaft of said drivingmotor, the diameter of said first movement gear is larger than saidsecond movement gear in order to amplify the torque.
 14. A portablemultimedia player with an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes ofclaim 7, further comprising a touch console for controlling saidportable multimedia player and said electric swiveling mechanism for twoaxes.
 15. A portable multimedia player with an electric swivelingmechanism for two axes of claim 7, further comprising a touch remotecontrol console for controlling said portable multimedia player and saidelectric swiveling mechanism for two axes.
 16. A portable multimediaplayer with an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 7,further comprising a RF (Radio Frequency) broadcaster for transmittingoutput audio signal into RF signal.
 17. A portable multimedia playerwith an electric swiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 7, furthercomprising a wireless telephone module for communicating with wirelesstelephone networks.
 18. A portable multimedia player with an electricswiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 7, further comprising awireless local area network module for communicating with wireless localarea networks.
 19. A portable multimedia player with an electricswiveling mechanism for two axes of claim 7, further comprising atelevision signal receiver for playing received television signal.
 20. Aportable multimedia player with an electric swiveling mechanism for twoaxes of claim 7, further comprising a power saving module for turningoff said portable multimedia player after idle for a while.